Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Mention the name Susan Boyle and most people will look at you blankly but talk about the middle-aged frump with the voice of an angel on TV's Britain Got Talent and everyone knows who you're talking about.
The look on the audience and judges' (especially Simon Cowell) faces when she first took to the stage said it all.
She looked a mess and everyone just thought she was going to make a complete fool of herself but the minute she opened her mouth and started to sing the world was put in its place. Her voice coupled with the choice of song she chose brought many a tear to the crowd and Simon's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
I remember at the time saying that her life would now be changed forever and that it wouldn't be long before someone saw her as a serious money making machine, took her under their wing and made her a star. There was little doubt in anyone's mid that a makeover would soon follow and that is ideed what's happened.
Surprisingly and sadly, to quite a considerable amount of criticism with the likes of TMZ.com commenting: "It didn't take long for the powers that be to turn Internet singing sensation Susan Boyle from granny to glammy."
Other newspaper headlines include: "Oh No! Boyles Going Glam" and "Susan Stripped of Her Natural Charm". What a load of old hooey!!
First the world mocks her for the way she looks and when she has the chance to do something about it, they complain. It's not as if she's made a huge transformation and is now unrecognisable, she's simply come out of her shell with all the attention she's been getting and has realised that maybe she deserves to look better than she did. A little dye and bit of make-up is no big deal.
When people let themselves go to the extent that she so obviously had, it's usually a sign that somewhere in their own minds they have convinced themselves that they're not worthy of attention. For a person that feels that way to find the courage to stand on stage in front of so many people and lay their soul out for all to see is an inspiration to us all. That they then realise that they do in fact have something to offer the world is something for us to cheer about not, as seems to be the case, mock!
